Welcome to Z Central Station

11,000+ Forum postings

10,900+ Gallery Images

320+ Download Library

Free Membership

220% Pure Z

Online Chat

Free Container models

Welcome to Z Central Station

Welcome

Welcome to the Z Central Station! A model railroad site dedicated to 1:220 scale model trains. Z Central Station was created to provide Z Scalers a full featured online community. Members can share their Z Scale experiences via our discussion forum, photo gallery, classifieds, videos, chat room and more! Membership to Z Central Station is free! Have an idea, comment, or concern? Z Central Station has a Contact us link under "My ZCS" menu option. 24 x 7 Active Chat for up to 20 members. Regular scheduled times are Sundays 1PM EST and Wednesdays 9:00PM EST. Chat is open to any member. Stop in and say Hi! 10,000+ Z scaled image gallery open for all to enjoy. Home Page Shout Box.13,000+ Forums Postings. More than 200 free downloads in our Library containing Instructionals, decals, paper/cardstock models, paintchip charts, modeler pad, and more! Ever wanted to create your own Blog? Here is your chance to create a Blog on your Z scale layout, modeling project, or even contest entry! You can add photos, videos, and links to show in your blog. This is one of the latest modules, I wanted to be sure to re-introduce this powerful tool for our members use. It is simple to join Z Central Station with a Free membership!

Features

Free Community Banners Free Z scale community banners are provided for individuals or groups looking to expand their current Z scale modeling group, starting a Z scale modeling group, or just to create a Z scale awareness in their area. Community banners are displayed on every Z Central Station page. For more information use the 'Contact us' form. Z Central Station Private Messaging ZCS always had the ability to allow private messaging between members but now it is functional for you to use. When you log in you will notice a PM Notifier just under the search box on every ZCS web page. When you go to your profile page you will notice several new PM modules. Here is where you can have ZCS email you when you receive a new PM, compose a PM to another ZCS member by using their screen name. You can also review sent, received, and deleted private messages.

Free online magazines

Free Online Magazines Here are some online sources for free magazines from various railroad related historical societies. If you information of other sources let us know and we would be glad to create a link to help other model railroaders. Keystone ModelerAC&Y ModelerNickel Plate Road Modeler

This date in RR history

Wanted

Wanted! Z Central Station is looking to add more photos, articles, and kit instructions. Z Central Station has 270+ documents in our library with 45+ kit instruction documents. We want to add more for future references. We would also like to add any articles from a simple kit build, train car repaint, anything to do with Z scale modeling. For more information or if you need help uploading images and files to ZCS, click on the 'Contact Us' Page.

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Easy Blog Showcase

With my basic table completed, it was time to start laying out some roadbed in preparation for track. Since the table is 24” across, and I wanted my mainline curve radius to be as large as possible,...

I love Kadee couplers. They are the only couplers you can (generally) reliably uncouple without sticking your fingers on the cars. They appear more realistic to my eye as well. But I’ve read where Z f...

After having completed this, I’m not entirely sure if I was brave to try it or foolhardy. But I’ve always been amazed by hand-laid turnouts (and hand-laid track in general), so for this small Z layo...

It’s not that I’m so old. It’s just that there are traditions that are important. And one tradition, at least to me, is to fabricate as much as possible. I don’t like buying ready-to-run models. I pre...

I’m not afraid of hard work. Never have been. But if I can work smarter, I’d rather do that. In this case, it’s long been a…dream, I suppose, to learn to build hand-laid turnouts. It always seemed l...

Random Modeling Tip

Every few months check and refresh your paint supplies. Whichever paints you use acrylics, enamels, or other solvent-based paint it is a good practice to check up on your paints and to give them a good shaking. Check your bottled paints, do they need to be refreshed with a dab of water or mineral spirits? What about your marker\paint pens? Then you might also want to do a spot check on your glues, putty, clay, stains, and pigments, to make sure they are in usable condition.